CLLR Charlie West has resigned from Chudleigh Parish Council after months of friction between fellow councillors and himself.

At the monthly meeting on Monday, he said he no longer wanted to be part of the parish council, but would remain a Teignbridge councillor.

For six months there has been friction between Cllr West and several councillors and on Monday it reached boiling point.

At the meeting, some parish councillors said they were angry that Cllr West did not attend the last Teignbridge Council Development Control Committee, when an application to build a bungalow and demolish an historic limestone wall in a garden at Grasmere, Old Exeter Road, Chudleigh, was discussed.

Cllr West said his daughter was ill and he had organised a substitute councillor.

No district councillor from Chudleigh was at the committee to express the parish council's objections and the plan was passed.

The parish had objected and hoped that, after a site visit by district councillors, it would be thrown out. They believed Cllr West would have made their objections clear.

They were disappointed and felt Cllr West had let the town down.

Cllr Pat Wills said she wanted an explanation why he did not attend the meeting, and asked why he did not contact Cllr Ray Frost to ask him to go to the meeting.

Cllr Frost said he had gone to the Teignbridge Council offices the morning of the development control committee for another meeting, and arrived as the development control meeting was finishing.

Council chairman Cllr Bill Stanyon said he appreciated the reasons why Cllr West was not at the meeting, but felt that Cllr West could have written or emailed the clerk or Cllr Frost to let him know the situation.

Cllr Douglas Laing said: 'I don't accept that you couldn't send an e-mail to people, as you knew that this plan is an on-going concern of the council.'

Cllr Wills proposed a vote of no confidence in Cllr West and it was seconded by Cllr Laing.

Later in the meeting, Cllr West resigned, saying his relationship with other parish councillors had become more difficult.

Cllr Stanyon asked him to 'meet and build bridges'.

Cllr West said: 'My experience in the last six months has been difficult and challenging.

'If I thought a meeting would be a way forward I would take it, but when political aspects affect my family life, I will protect them.'

After the meeting, he said he had every intention of of attending the development control committee, but a last-minute personal emergency prevented him from doing so.

he said: 'Against the parish council's wishes, the planning application was recommended by officers for approval and was passed with a substantial majority.

'My 11-month-old daughter was seriously ill in early December. I had a week in hospital with her.

'Initially, there was concern she may have had meningitis, as she was covered in red rashes.

'She was receiving three different types of medication.

'Cllr Stanyon and Cllr Frost were aware of this.

'Without warning, on December 18 her condition worsened and we immediately sought medical treatment for her.

'One parish councillor clearly feels I should have contacted the planning department rather than assisting my daughter.'

Cllr West said it was interesting that the absence of Cllr Frost at the site visit about the wall, the more regular absence of the county councillor, or the long-term absence of the police representative did not attract the same criticism.

Claiming his position was untenable, he said: 'Every motion I propose receives no support. I am unable to achieve anything for the residents on a parish level in the face of this opposition.

'I would be much more effective as a voice outside the council chamber, and continuing my work on the district authority.